Sanya was the first person to reach the kitchen, followed by Kamal and Neelam.
They stood before the grand doors.
The kitchen golems pushed the heavy doors open with a soft rumble. Kamal, Neelam, and Sanya leaned forward, curious, and peered inside.
Solar clone and Sacral clone were busy placing dishes on the sixty‑meter dining table, plates and bowls stretching almost out of sight. "Mom, Dad, Sanya, come here, the food is ready," Solar clone called out.
Kamal was the first to step in and sit down, followed by Neelam and Sanya. Their eyes swept over the table—more than a hundred dishes, all steaming and fragrant. "So many dishes! Are you serving a monster or what?" they blurted out together.
Sacral clone chuckled. "Don't worry, this will all be finished and won't go to waste."
Sanya dragged her chair closer. "Give me the rice, roti, vegetables… give me everything!" she shouted, eyes shining. She had always been a foodie; facing this much delicious food, her self‑control vanished instantly. Kamal and Neelam sat beside her, smiling helplessly.
Solar clone moved his hand slightly and used his thoughts to serve them. The dishes rose on their own, food sliding neatly into plates without spilling a grain. The filled plates floated down and stopped perfectly in front of Sanya, Kamal, and Neelam.
They took their first bites. Their eyes lit up instantly. The taste was rich, clean, and full of energy. In a few moments, all three cleared their plates and, almost in unison, said, "Give me more." Solar clone complied and served them another round.
Between bites, Neelam looked at both clones standing and smiling. "Why are you two not eating? Come here, sit down," she said.
Sacral clone shook his head gently. "We're waiting for the main body to arrive. Then we'll eat together."
The three of them paused, spoons halfway to their mouths. "Why didn't you tell us earlier? We could have eaten with Ankit from the start!" they complained.
Sacral clone just smiled. "Don't worry. Main body doesn't mind. You should eat first. He is coming… oh, he came just in time."
All three turned toward the door at the same moment.
The gate opened, and Ankit walked in. He wore pure white clothes, his long black hair falling over his shoulders and tied back into a simple ponytail. His face was clean and calm, yet there was a sharp, unmatched handsomeness to him that made the air feel still.
They saw him stop using the earth technique—the rounded stone platform under his feet sank back into the floor and vanished. He took the last few steps toward the kitchen, a small smile on his lips.
They had seen the clones every day; they looked just like him, so they thought they were prepared. But the real Ankit was somehow different—hard to describe, just more alive, more striking than either clone.
He walked up to the table, looked at his family, and asked softly, "You all comfortable here?"
______
Ankit entered the kitchen, and the first thing he saw was the faces of his parents watching him. He smiled softly and asked again, "You all comfortable here?"
Sanya didn't even wait a second. "Awesomeeeee! Our new home is too awesome. But you are more awesome," she said, grinning from ear to ear. Kamal and Neelam nodded in agreement.
The fortress was shocking, but the one who built such a place underground was even more shocking.
"Okay, let's eat. I'm very hungry," Ankit said. He waved his hand and the dishes near him rose into the air, flying over and settling neatly in front of his seat. He picked up his food and started eating.
In just a few minutes, his first plate was clean. Another plate slid in front of him, then another. Each time, Ankit finished everything quickly, not wasting a single grain.
Solar clone and Sacral clone also sat down and began to eat. They didn't need food, being elemental bodies, but with family around, they wanted to enjoy the moment.
The clones ate at a normal, relaxed pace. Ankit, on the other hand, devoured dish after dish like a starving warrior. His mouth opened wide, hands moving nonstop. Kamal, Neelam, and Sanya looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Right now, Ankit looked just like an anime character during a food scene—rapid‑fire bites, shining eyes, and empty plates stacking up like a tower.
_____
After all the food was completely finished—just as Sacral clone had promised—everyone moved to rest in the garden. The underground sky glowed gently with the red suns, and a cool breeze drifted through the plants.
Ankit leaned back on a stone bench, already feeling light. His strong body had digested the meal quickly. He had eaten like crazy because he hadn't eaten properly during his last cultivation session, and he wanted to taste every single dish his clones had prepared.
More than that, he wanted to enjoy this peaceful time with his family.
Soon, he would dive into another long cultivation session. Before that, sitting here with them, laughing and relaxing in the garden, felt more precious than any realm breakthrough.